Hoover hasn't had much luck against Crescenta Valley recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Tornados will look to defend their home field against the Falcons at 3:45 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
If Hoover beats Crescenta Valley with 23 runs on Tuesday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Tornados were the clear victors by a 23-12 margin over St. Mary's Academy on Friday. The Tornados have beaten the Belles the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Belles has come to flipping the script.
Evelyn Ortiz made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out seven batters over four innings while giving up just one earned (and five unearned) runs off one hit. Ortiz was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Hoover got a massive performance out of Bianca Parker, who got on base in four of her six plate appearances with two stolen bases, four RBI, and two runs. Sophia Hernandez was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
Mark Keppel typically has all the answers at home, but on Monday Crescenta Valley proved too difficult a challenge. They put the hurt on the Aztecs with a sharp 8-1 win. Winning may never get old, but the Falcons sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Chloe Mulcahey spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Alexa Johnson, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Jasmine Hernandez, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
Crescenta Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive games.
Crescenta Valley's victory bumped their record up to 9-4. As for Hoover, their win bumped their record up to 12-5.
Hoover's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. The Tornados have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 8.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Crescenta Valley, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Hoover continue to outrun the ball?
Hoover suffered a grim 15-0 defeat to Crescenta Valley in their previous matchup back in March of 2024. Will the Tornados have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
